Medicare Debacle

As you may have heard, the recent Medicare drug changes that began on Jan 1st have been a disaster. I have never known much about Medicare or Medicaid, or health care in general. As I learn more, I see some good and more bad.

In this case, 6 million people on Medicaid were switched to Medicare. The bad is that prices are higher for Medicare patients (Medicare covers seniors 65 and above, Medicaid is for low income citizens). Medicaid can barter for lower prices; Medicare cannot.

By combining much of Medicare and Medicaid (I get the idea that Medicaid isn't abolished, but reduced) , it opens the door to expanding Medicare further. For example, Medicare could provide coverage for all minors. If it is no longer just for seniors, that opens the flood gates for more national care. A long term goal could be Medicare for all, as a universal health care program. Of course, Medicare, to be financially responsible, must barter with companies on prices. This costs the program $100 Billion dollars, according to Hillary Clinton. This is a clear give-away to Pharmaceutical companies, who fund Republicans much more than Democrats.

So while Medicare laws have been terrible this year, denying coverage to many, and confusing many Medicaid users, and raising prices, there is some good. We can use this as a launching point for national health care. Also, this puts health care back to the forefront of national problems. Open the debate, and push hard for health care for everyone!